BANNER THE SQUIRREL
Original title: Seton Dobutsuki Risu No Banner Characters: Banner, Susy, Graubart, Clay, Lori, Acacio, Gocha and Ladol, Uncle Horned Owl Author: Eberhard Storeck Production: Nippon animation Regia: Yoshihiro Kuroda | Country: Japan Year: 1979 Broadcast in Italy: 1982 Gender: Educational / Adventure Episodes: 26 Duration: 24 minutes Recommended age: Children from 0 to 5 years old |
The cartoon "Lo squirrel Banner" (original title Seton Dobutsuki Risu No Banner) was broadcast for the first time on Italia 1, in 1982 and later on the various local stations. Produced by Nippon Animation in 1979, the series consists of 26 episodes each lasting 24 minutes based on the screenplay by Eberhard Storeck. Many will remember the logo
very catchy, sung by green apples. The story has as its protagonist a little squirrel named Banner, who is an orphan and wanders all alone in the forest. After his tree has been cut down, he is found by a child who instead of softening, decides to feed it to his cat once he returns to the farm. Fortunately, the cat is very sweet and sensitive, with an innate maternal instinct and seeing that squirrel cub she decides to adopt him. Banner is then bred as a cat, learning all the ways and uses typical of cats, despite being mocked and opposed by the other cats on the farm. One day a fire breaks out and the boy runs away taking his cat, which in turn does not have time to take Banner who was in the stable while he was taking a nap. With a heroic gesture, the cat returns to the farm and, facing the flames, manages to enter the stable and save the little squirrel trembling with fear. Unfortunately, the cat is trapped, while Banner can do nothing to save her and escapes behind her order. Luckily she manages to free herself, but by now she no longer finds Banner who in the meantime had moved away from there and so, she is taken away by the peasants who now have to move to another place. Banner has nothing to do but go into the forest, also because he is chased by a dog and runs away terrified in that direction. In the woods, after having faced a series of dangers, he will get acquainted with several animals, including an Owl, who hosts him to sleep in his nest. He later meets the squirrel Clay, who manages to save from chasing a fox. Once in the squirrel community, Banner is rejected and marginalized because behaving like a cat, he has strange attitudes towards his peers, moreover the little bell he wears on his neck could attract some predators. Banner is greeted and understood only by the squirrel Susy, who gives her a nut. From here on Banner will learn how to eat walnuts and behave like a normal squirrel, until the two squirrels marry and live a peaceful hibernation. <
Banner the Squirrel is copyright Nippon Animation 1979. All rights reserved.
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